Since the start of the war over the weekend — launched by coordinated Israeli and US strikes on targets in Iran — the conflict has rapidly expanded. Regional media report waves of retaliatory missile and drone attacks, cross-border strikes involving allied armed groups, mounting civilian casualties, and growing fears that the fighting could spiral into a broader Middle East war.
Within days, violence spread from Iran and Israel to Lebanon and multiple Gulf states. Energy infrastructure has been targeted, military aircraft downed, and international agencies have raised concerns about the safety of nuclear facilities.
Gulf states and US condemn Iranian attacks
A joint statement by the United States and several Gulf states condemned what they described as Iran’s “indiscriminate and reckless missile and drone attacks” across the Middle East, warning that they threaten regional stability.
According to the statement, attacks took place in Bahrain, Iraq (including the Kurdistan region), Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
Hezbollah opens a new front
A new front in the war opened on Monday when Hezbollah launched missiles and drones toward Israel.
The group said the attack was retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Israel responded with airstrikes on Beirut and southern Lebanon. According to Lebanon’s health ministry, at least 31 people were killed and 149 injured.
Casualties reported in Iran
The Iranian Red Crescent Society said at least 555 people have been killed in Iran across 131 cities since Saturday as a result of Israeli-US attacks.
The scale of reported casualties suggests widespread impact beyond military targets, though independent verification remains limited.
US jets shot down by mistake in Kuwait
In a significant military incident, Kuwait’s air defenses mistakenly shot down three US F-15 fighter jets engaged in Iran-related operations, according to US Central Command (Centcom).
All six crew members ejected safely and were recovered in stable condition. The incident underscores the risks of miscalculation amid heavy aerial activity across the region.
Nuclear safety concerns raised
Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, warned that attacks on civilian nuclear power stations could trigger radiological release and potentially require mass evacuations of major cities.
However, he said there is currently no indication that Iran’s nuclear facilities have been damaged in the recent Israeli and US strikes.
